ORCID Profile
0000-0001-5015-3492
Current Organisation
Deakin University
Does something not look right? The information on this page has been harvested from data sources that may not be up to date. We continue to work with information providers to improve coverage and quality. To report an issue, use the Feedback Form.
Publisher: IGI Global
Date: 13-07-2022
Abstract: Social environments can be challenging for people with intellectual disability. These challenges impact a person’s social inclusion and participation in their communities. Social skills development requires training and practice, but training is often time-limited, costly, and hard to access. However, games on smart speakers provide interesting opportunities to improve training access, motivate self-directed learning, and focus on speech. The authors developed an interactive narrative-based social skills training game for smart-speakers. The game facilitates exploration of the social consequences of making various choices in different social situations and uses natural language inputs. Having tested the game with ten adults with intellectual disability, the authors offer designers insights into participant engagement and the game’s audio-only, natural language interface usability. The authors also propose four design considerations to help designers design applications that help people with intellectual disability participate in social activities.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 18-02-2020
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 23-10-2020
DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2020.1836680
Abstract: Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) emphasises full and equal legal capacity of all citizens to participate in decisions. This paper examines whether the principles of Article 12, also reflected in other reform documents, were evident within 12 guardianship hearings conducted in Victoria, Australia from 2001 to 2016 involving adults with cognitive disability. The issues this study raises resonate loudly across the globe as multiple signatory nations to the CRPD grapple with the complexities of implementing Article 12. Reports of VCAT decisions with written reasons of Guardianship List hearings from 2001 to 2016 were selected from the Australasian Legal Information Institute site and analysed thematically. Thematic analysis of proceedings revealed three consistent trends. Firstly, a presumption of incapacity based on disability excluded Proposed Represented Persons (PRP) from involvement in decision-making. Secondly, external perceptions of PRPs best interest were dominated by safeguarding concerns and conflict between supporters. Finally, in multiple cases, although a PRP's preference had been established, it was considered immaterial to the final decision. The paper concludes with a promising discussion of the new Guardianship and Administration Act 2019 (Vic), which came into force on 1 March 2020, and recommendations for guardianship practice both locally and internationally.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONLegal capacity should be recognised as inherent in all people, and therefore decision making incapacity should not be assumed based on a person's cognitive and/or communication disability The supported decision making mechanisms, born from Article 12 of the CRPD, that facilitate acknowledgment, interpretation and acting upon a person's expression of will and preference need to be recognised and promoted within the context of Guardianship proceedings and by health professionals when assessing decision making capacity of people with cognitive disability Significant knowledge and attitudinal changes are required within the Tribunal and incorporated into the practice of health professionals informing the Tribunal, in order to counter many conceptual underpinnings embedded within current guardianship legislation across the globe Ascertaining the will and preference of the proposed represented person should be prioritised by Guardianship tribunal members' rather than the management of conflict between interested parties.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-06-2020
DOI: 10.1186/S12889-020-08654-0
Abstract: Community gambling venues (pubs and clubs) are commonly associated with leisure and recreational options in Australian communities. While these venues offer a range of activities and facilities, including social opportunities, sporting facilities, live entertainment, they also contain gambling products that are known to cause significant harm to in iduals, their families and communities. Although researchers have explored how adults and children engage with these venues, there is limited understanding about the potential risks and benefits of these venues for people with lifelong disability. Semi structured interviews were conducted with nineteen people aged 20–70 years with lifelong disability (includes in this context intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and learning disability), predominately intellectual disability. The interviews occurred in a large Australian city and explored interviewees’ experiences and attitudes towards pubs and clubs. Using a range of visual prompts (if needed), participants were asked to describe their engagement in different activities offered within the venue. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed, with a thematic analysis used to identify themes across the group. Most participants attended venues with family, friends, and supporters, with a few attending on their own. Participants described socialising in the venue, going for reduced price meals, and attended for a range of activities including recreational activities, live entertainment and sport. Some participants also valued being a member of venues, and the interactions with staff members. While participants were cautious about the consumption of alcohol, most had gambled, particularly on electronic gambling machines (EGMs, pokies, or slots). Some participants stated that they had experienced problems with gambling. While many people with lifelong disability have positive experiences in pubs and clubs, some are vulnerable to the harms associated with risky products such as gambling within the venue. While it is important to acknowledge the positives associated with recreational facilities and encourage engagement in leisure activities for people with lifelong disability, further consideration is needed to ensure people are informed and protected from the harms associated with gambling and other products that are provided within these spaces.
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2022
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 03-12-2015
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-08-2017
DOI: 10.1111/JAR.12393
Abstract: The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) promotes the use of supported decision making in lieu of substitute decision making. To date, there has been a lack of focus on supported decision making for people with severe or profound intellectual disability, including for end of life decisions. Five people with severe or profound intellectual disability's experiences of supported decision making were examined. This article is particularly focused on one participant's experiences at the end of his life. All five case studies identified that supporters were most effective in providing decision-making support for participants when they were relationally close to the person and had knowledge of the person's life story, particularly in relation to events that demonstrated preference. Findings from this study provide new understandings of supported decision making for people with severe or profound intellectual disability and have particular relevance for supporting decision making at the end of life.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-08-2016
DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2022.2127932
Abstract: Psychoeducational interventions are commonly used to improve mental health among the general population however, their application among people with complex communication needs is under explored. This scoping review aims to identify the psychoeducational interventions utilised with people with complex communication needs, any adaptations to improve communication access, and outcomes for this population. The scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O'Malley guidelines and included stakeholder consultations. A systematic search of the literature was conducted. Stakeholder consultations were conducted via semi-structured interviews with informants from three populations: people with complex communication needs, everyday communication partners and mental health workers. The search yielded 2112 articles. Twenty-four articles were retained for data extraction. Numerical analysis provided an overview of the existing literature. Thematic analysis highlighted the range of communication access strategies applied within psychoeducational interventions. Common aims and outcomes of interventions occurred across three interrelated themes: education, symptom reduction, and improved coping and wellbeing. Stakeholder consultations enabled contextualisation of literature. People with complex communication needs may benefit from psychoeducational interventions when effective, personalised communication access strategies are employed. Future research should include lived-experience perspectives to ensure the relevance of communication access strategies in mental health support.Implications for rehabilitationThis scoping review adds to the evidence base supporting equitable access to mental health support for people with complex communication needs.A range of specific strategies are presented for mental health workers to consider when working with people with complex communication needs.Positive behaviour support (PBS) practitioners must be equipped to address the psychoeducational and mental health support requirements of people with complex communication needs.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-01-2022
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 17-10-2022
DOI: 10.3390/HEALTHCARE10102061
Abstract: People with intellectual disability have poorer oral health outcomes and experience greater difficulties accessing dental services than the rest of the community. Interdisciplinary educational programs for those involved in oral health decision making for people with intellectual disability aim to improve their oral health. This scoping review explored education/training interventions related to the oral health of adults with intellectual disability. Interventions targeted dental health and non-dental health professionals, adults with intellectual disability, and their paid and unpaid supporters. Six electronic databases were searched using PRISMA guidelines and the Crowes critical appraisal tool. The search strategy, plus the application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, presented in the body of the manuscript, led to the selection of 20 papers for inclusion into this review. The quality of undergraduate tuition relating to disability was reported to be poor, but students and dental health professionals expressed interest in expanding their knowledge in this area. Disability-support workers and primary carers of people with intellectual disability reported improved knowledge and attitude, but the oral health status of the people they supported was not impacted. No research was found that explored the perspectives of non-dental health professionals. Oral health training/education contributes to systemic barriers in general health, wellbeing, and social inclusion of people with intellectual disability. Revision of disability-related programs in general dentistry courses and longitudinal impact research is needed.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 20-10-2016
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 13-09-2021
Publisher: The Ohio State University Libraries
Date: 07-03-2017
Abstract: Supported decision-making is at the forefront of modern disability research. This is due to Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which creates a state obligation to provide support for the exercise of legal capacity. This turned the practice of supported decision-making into a human rights imperative. Government and funding agencies are increasingly focusing their attention on the area. Researchers are similarly increasing their interest in the field. The impending danger is that the rush of interest in the area will overshadow the original intention of supported decision-making: to ensure that people with cognitive disability are provided with the freedom and the tools to participate as equal citizens and for every in idual to be free to direct their own life. This article explores the theoretical foundations of supported decision-making and the evolution of supported decision-making research. It explains the research that is emerging in leading jurisdictions, the United States and Australia, and its potential to transform disability services and laws related to decision-making. Finally, it identifies areas of concern in the direction of such research and provides recommendations for ensuring that supported decision-making remains protective of the rights, will and preferences of people with cognitive disability.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-2021
DOI: 10.1007/S13668-021-00382-0
Abstract: To investigate the type and effectiveness of health promotion programs designed to improve nutrition for people with intellectual disability. This review also sought to highlight gaps in the evidence by mapping interventions to the socio-ecological model. To date, reviews on health promotion programs for people with intellectual disability have focused on in idualised weight management interventions and behaviour change techniques. No reviews have focused solely on nutrition or considered a broader range of interventions and policies targeted beyond the in idual. This review found that health promotion interventions to date were predominantly at the in idual level of the socio-ecological model and of varying effectiveness. Of the non-in idually focused interventions, those targeting the physical environment or considering multiple socio-ecological levels achieved the greatest improvements in nutrition outcomes. Nutrition and obesity prevention research and policy need to include intellectual disability as part of equity considerations, while intellectual disability policy needs to consider the broader food environment.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 30-10-2019
Abstract: With a focus on the use of narrative approaches, this article is a commentary on decision-making support for people with profound intellectual and multiple disability (PIMD) at the end-of-life. Due to improved health care, people with PIMD are living longer lives than ever before. Therefore, they are increasingly facing decisions relating to end-of-life care and planning. Despite the increased attention that has been given to end-of-life planning, opportunities to have preferences responded to at the end-of-life are more likely afforded to people considered to have cognitive and decision-making capacity. Those supporting people with PIMD to plan for and make decisions about end-of-life care face several challenges. These challenges are rooted in difficulties with communication exchange between people with PIMD and their communication partners, leading to a widely held perception of decision-making incompetence for this population. In response to this challenge, this article draws on empirical research to discuss decision-making support within the context of palliative care and advance care planning, specifically for people with PIMD. It promotes decision-making support as an approach to assist supporters of people with PIMD to allow those people’s expressions of preferences to be acknowledged and acted upon at the end-of-life. The use of narrative is presented and discussed as a tool for enabling this responsiveness, specifically within the context of end-of-life planning.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 12-01-2021
DOI: 10.3389/FPUBH.2020.536520
Abstract: Objective: This study aimed to understand the factors that may influence how and why people with intellectual disability may engage in gambling. Method: Nineteen people with intellectual disability were recruited from a disability advocacy organization and participated in face to face, semi-structured qualitative interviews. Open ended questions were used to explore participants' gambling participation, recall of, and attitudes toward, different gambling products, understanding of gambling harm, and awareness of responsible gambling messages. Results: All participants could remember gambling in their lifetime and some participants had recently engaged in gambling. Many participants were aware of different gambling products, and a few participants could describe in detail the technical aspects of electronic gambling machines. Most participants did not specifically recall seeing gambling harm minimization messages, however some described engaging in in idual responsibility measures, such as limits and control, as they perceived this reduced the risks of experiencing harm. Conclusions: People with intellectual disability are engaging with gambling products in a similar way to the general community. Therefore, it is important to understand the different pathways that may lead people with intellectual disability to initiate and continue gambling and to ensure that they are aware of and protected from the potential risk. Implications for Public Health: Policy makers and practitioners should seek to understand and implement a range of strategies to reduce and prevent the harms associated with particular gambling products and environments for this population sub-group.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 19-01-2022
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2200
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-04-2019
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Date: 08-06-2023
Publisher: ACM
Date: 17-10-2019
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-11-2021
DOI: 10.1186/S12904-021-00873-5
Abstract: Due to developments in health and social care, people with profound intellectual and multiple disability (PIMD) are living longer than ever before, meaning they are increasingly experiencing life-threatening health conditions requiring palliative care. Little is known about providing end-of-life care for people with PIMD. The aim of this study was to explore health practitioners’ perspectives and practices relating to end-of-life decision-making and planning for people with PIMD. Seven in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with health practitioners employed in a range of hospital and community services throughout Melbourne, Australia. Questions were designed to gather information about their experience, perceptions, and attitudes relating to people with PIMD during and at the end of their life. Each interview, ranging from 40 to 60 min in length, was audio recorded and transcribed. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Four main themes emerged: limited participation, bias, dignity, and quality of death. Health practitioners indicated that people with PIMD are frequently excluded from participating in decision-making related to end-of-life care. Participants discussed reasons for this exclusion including challenges with communication and cognition. Participants reported a need for additional support and guidance in providing care for people with PIMD at the end of life. Professional and family bias played a role in end-of-life decision-making for people with PIMD. Participants reported a disproportional focus by palliative care practitioners on physical as opposed to emotional and spiritual well-being for patients with PIMD at the end of life. Finally, participants reported that people with PIMD generally did not die in specialised palliative care settings, but in segregated supported living environments. Due to negative perceptions of a person with PIMD’s decision-making capacity, people with PIMD are likely to be assessed as unable to express choice and preference regarding end-of-life care and are offered limited opportunity to be involved in their own end-of-life care. This research provides guidance for the development of training and professional development relating to people with PIMD at the end of life. It is hoped that this will increase the accessibility of end-of-life services for people with PIMD, ensuring that a respectful and dignified death can be a reality for all humankind regardless of disability.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 12-07-2023
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 19-02-2016
DOI: 10.3390/LAWS5010006
No related grants have been discovered for Joanne Watson.